“We talked with Nova Scotians, we heard their concerns, and we’ve put in place regulations that will help the industry contribute to our economy while protecting our environment,” Agriculture Minister John MacDonell said in the release.

The regulations focus on “environmental management” of commercial operations with more than 100 mink or fox in their breeding herds.

“They concentrate on the storage, treatment and disposal of manure, waste feed and carcasses,” the release said.

Dennis Boudreau, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, said “although (they) will download costs to the farm business, the federation feels the regulations are a reasonable balance to protect our environment while allowing the industry to develop.”

Any operations that have a significant increase in their breeding herd or females “must have covered, concrete storage for liquid manure and closed-style sheds for housing animals,” the release said.